Singapore’s Inaugural Tech and Innovation Convention, SWITCH is here!

Singapore’s answer to the Tech weeks that happen world over is HERE!

The inaugural Singapore Week of Innovation & TeCHnology (SWITCH) is a new platform concept where complementing tech and innovation events come together to “plug and play”.

SWITCH is the first platform in Singapore that will aggregate an array of public and private sector players in the innovation and enterprise ecosystem, to come together to build a concept week that showcases Singapore’s vibrant entrepreneurial and technology innovation ecosystem.

SWITCH will feature exhibitions, conferences, workshops and activities revolving around topics such as open innovation, technology transfer, tech entrepreneurship, venture funding, and talent development. Over 3,000 attendees are expected to visit this event which aims to connect Asian innovators and start-ups to the international technology community of investors and industry leaders.

This event will make its debut from 19-21st September 2016 at the Resorts World Convention Centre and will be officially launched by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Chairman, National Research Foundation, on 20 September 2016.

Highlights

The highlight of this year’s SWITCH is its two anchor events – Techventure and Techinnovation, two very established tech events in the Singapore technology calendar.

This year, Techventure is having a unique partnership with SLUSH Singapore, a non-profit ground-up tech start-up movement that is enhancing Singapore’s vibrant innovation and enterprise ecosystem. It aims to transform Techventure into a community driven effort – for the community, by the community to celebrate entrepreneurship. Over 150 volunteers from Singapore including entrepreneurs, polytechnic students, research fellows, scientists will come together to make it a reality and thereby giving a community angle to it.

Professor Low Teck Seng, CEO, National Research Foundation sharing more about the inaugural Singapore Week of Innovation & TeCHnology (SWITCH). Photo Credit: National Research Foundation Singapore

Professor Low Teck Seng, CEO of the National Research Foundation (NRF) said, “Over the years, Singapore has grown steadily into a vibrant innovation and enterprise hub. In tandem with this growth, we hope that SWITCH will become the leading platform in Singapore that connects organisations and partners across the ecosystem to network and exchange ideas. By bringing everyone together to meet and discuss the latest tech and market trends, we can strengthen Singapore’s position as a relevant and supportive environment for start-ups and innovative ideas to grow. This will support Singapore’s next chapter of growth in the future economy.”

TechInnovation 2016 happening on 20 – 21 September 2016, is Singapore’s premium technology brokerage event that aims to bridge the gap between enterprises and technology providers. Organized by IPI Singapore, this year’s TechInnovation will host more than 70 international speakers, business leaders, R&D heads as wells as technology seekers.

“Techinnovation aims to help SMEs expand their opportunities for collaboration. This year, we have introduced a brand new segment to foster Singapore-Europe partnership opportunities with the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN). This segment will connect technology seekers with European SMEs which are developing innovations in sectors such as nano-technology, ICT, Environment, Healthcare and Energy,” said Professor Lam Khin Yong, Executive Director of IPI.

Slush Pitching competition × Channel NewsAsia will put pre-series A startups through a battle for one spot to enter Slush 100 Pitching Competition in Helsinki, Finland this November. Eight startups will take part in the next season of Channel NewsAsia’s Start-UP and up to four winners will stand to gain seed funding worth SGD500,000 each.

Women in Tech (WiT) Event involves showcasing 10+ high-profile individuals and super-achievers from the international and Southeast Asian tech scene. Speakers include Heads of Product, VCs, Leaders of Global Tech Companies and Next Generation Company Founders.

Letsventure Angel Investor Workshop

Golden Gate Ventures Startup Funding Workshop

Live Stage for interactions and Booths at Demo area

SWITCH promises to be an exciting meeting point for Singapore’s vibrant innovation and enterprise community. The stage is set for SWITCH to achieve its long-term vision – To build up a technology calendar of complementing partner events, spanning over a week or longer, where global innovators participate and mark as an essential flagship event in Asia.

Co-founder, Author and Editor, biotechin.asia, Biotech Media Pte. Ltd.
Laxmi graduated from University of Mumbai, India (Bachelors in Biotechnology and Biochemistry and Masters in Biochemistry) in 2007 and received her Ph.D in Virology from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. She worked on the process of assembly of respiratory syncytial virus in macrophages and epithelial cells and has several papers to her credit.